Charm is deceitful, and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)
Charming And Beautiful
When Israel demanded a king for them to follow, the son of a wealthy, influential man was chosen to be their leader. He was the most handsome man in Israel, head and shoulders taller than everyone. The people chose Saul of Kish as king. At first, Saul was humble, but his arrogance and pride led him to think too highly of himself and disobey God’s word. One of David’s sons was a perfect specimen of charm and beauty. In all Israel, none was praised so much for his beauty as Absalom. He was incredibly handsome from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head. Absalom had no blemishes on the outside, but inside he was proud, boastful, and rebellious. He led a rebellion against his father David and died hanging from a tree. His body was thrown in a pit and covered with stones—an inglorious end for a man who thought so much of his charm and beauty. When Jehu came to Jezreel to kill Jezebel, she painted her eyes and adorned her hair, trying to charm Jehu with her beauty. Her beauty and charm did not save her from a horrible death.
Grace is a deceitful charm that often brings nothing but misery and heartache. Jeremiah warned the people against charm and beauty: not to let the wise man glory in his wisdom, the mighty man glory in his might, or the rich man glory in his riches. Beauty is vain, and the world spends nearly $698 billion on the greatest of vanities. People judge by charm and beauty as if these were the only qualifications for wisdom. Charm is a deceitful tool to enlist the sin of pride in the heart for no good purpose. Beauty does not last. Time is the great equalizer of the proud and beautiful who trust in their outward appearance. Parents dress their daughters to look like grown adults, and older adults try to look young. Both are catastrophes because charm is nothing more than a deception of the heart, and beauty fades. Aging reminds the soul that beauty cannot last.
The only truth in life is found in the beautiful heart of one who fears the Lord. If more people spent time adorning the inner body with God’s beauty and grace, the world would be much better. A woman who fears the Lord is the woman to be praised. The inner person never fades away. In the natural world, beauty excels and then fades. At the end, the physical body becomes distorted and weak. In the spiritual world, inner beauty begins small but grows more and more, until, in old age, the heart of the faithful possesses the youthfulness of God’s grace. It is seen in the eyes that have grown tired of this world but long for an eternal home. The face may be wrinkled, but not the spirit. God praises the inward beauty of a heart devoted to Him.
There is an equalizer common to all men and women. Beauty fades in time. No amount of beauty cream or makeup will stop aging, and it certainly will not stop one from dying. Wealthy people die. Charming people die. The most beautiful people in the world die just as the least attractive do. True beauty is measured by the soul. God is not impressed by this world’s charm. He created humanity to be beautiful in His sight by what is found in the heart. Beauty is vanity and useless without the beauty of God. Seek the beauty that will never fade away or grow old.
